Wood Conference SA

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: 𝟭𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 – 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀! 🤩

The anniversary edition of the Wood Conference in Cape Town took place under the motto “𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 – 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.” It brought together reflections on the past, insights from the present, and visions for the future of modern timber construction – both globally and in South Africa. 🌍✨

Around 1,000 participants demonstrated the strong importance this 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 holds in South Africa for architects, planners, investors, builders, lecturers, and students alike. 💡

Renowned speakers from South Africa, Europe, and Switzerland presented 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 and impressively showcased how timber has evolved in recent years into a key pillar of 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 👏

A heartfelt thank-you to all speakers and our sponsors:

sa .southafrica

Learn more about this year’s Wood Conference here: woodconference.co.za/news/15-years-wood-conference-south-africa

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 – Part 3

We’re excited to introduce the next 4 of the 15 inspiring minds joining this year’s Wood Conference:

Sean Mahoney – Director and Architect, studioMAS architects

Simon Topliss – Principal Warren and Mahoney

Dave Gaynor – Ecosystems Services Regional Lead Africa, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

Martin Povala – Structural Timber Engineer, A2 Timber

A huge thank you to each of them for sharing their expertise and inspiring us all. It’s amazing to see such talent from around the world coming together for this event!

Stay tuned for the next speakers in our series – you won’t want to miss them! ✨

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 – Part 2

We’re excited to introduce the next 4 of the 15 inspiring minds joining this year’s Wood Conference:

Maretha Perold – Senior Project, Wolf and Wolf Architects

Gunnar Adolf Aanesland – Owner of Aanesland Treindustri

Richard Stretton – Director and Owner, Koop Design

Jari Janowski – Structural Timber Engineer, Timbatex

A huge thank you to each of them for sharing their expertise and inspiring us all. It’s amazing to see such talent from around the world coming together for this event!

Stay tuned for the next speakers in our series – you won’t want to miss them! ✨


38 Min.

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀! 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝟰 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿’𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:

Andreas Rufer – Consul General of Switzerland in Cape Town, Embassy of Switzerland in South Africa

Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews – , City of Cape Town

Reinhard Kropf – Architect, Helen and Hard

Jürg Frefel – CEO, Stöcklin Logistik AG
A huge thank you to each of them for sharing their expertise and inspiring us all. It’s amazing to see such talent from around the world coming together for this event!

Stay tuned for the next speakers in our series – you won’t want to miss them! ✨

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 – 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟰𝗧𝗛 𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 🌿✨

Nearly 400 participants and 13 international speakers gathered at the 4th WOOD Conference in Cape Town on 11 February 2014.

Building on lessons from previous editions, the event 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 to a 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻-𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺, where industry leaders shared insights on sustainability, energy efficiency, and innovative timber construction practices. 🌍✨

From inspiring talks by 𝗠𝗮𝘅 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶 on industrial prefabrication to 𝗟𝘂𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗠𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗹𝘄a showing how modern architecture can reflect local culture, this edition highlighted the power of knowledge, collaboration, and creative timber solutions. 🌿

Save the date for the upcoming Wood Conference!
𝟮𝟰.𝟬𝟮.𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲🌲📅

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✨ 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟯𝗿𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲! ✨

On Friday, February 8, 2013, we hosted the third edition of the Wood Conference – almost sold out with 250 attendees! 😲
The event was held under the theme “𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲: 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 – 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺.”

This edition marked several milestones:
🌟 𝗖𝗣𝗗-𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 for the first time, offering architects a valuable opportunity for professional development.
🌟 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, founded by George Kuratle, was introduced to support students and inspire a passion for building and designing with timber.

The event brought together 𝟭𝟭 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, including 𝘀𝗶𝘅 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮, covering topics from social housing to exclusive timber constructions, design, energy efficiency, and national building standards.

Save the date for the upcoming Wood Conference!
𝟮𝟰.𝟬𝟮.𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲🌲📅

🔙

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 – 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟮𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 🌍✨

On 2 February 2012, around 150 participants joined the second Wood Conference in Cape Town, opened by George Kuratle and accompanied all day by Irene Flückiger, Swiss Consul General. Hannu Garny moderated with energy and South African flair, while Thomas Rohner led the impressive organization.

The conference featured inspiring talks on:
🌲 Sustainable forestry in South Africa
🔥 Air pollution risks from burning treated timber
🏙 Urban timber design & CLT innovations
🪵 Flexible wood & material innovations
🌍 International sustainability projects

Engaging discussions connected participants and speakers beyond national borders — strengthening the vision: Cutting-Edge Knowledge for Building and Living.

𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝟭𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 – 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟭
It all started in Cape Town, at the CTICC, on 11 February 2011.
Nearly 100 participants followed the invitation of George Kuratle to take part in the very first Wood Conference

With the theme
👉 “WOOD – The universal material for innovative and sustainable modern architecture”,
the event brought together architects, engineers, and visionaries who shared one belief:
Wood is the future of sustainable building.

Renowned speakers such as Prof. Michael Flach, Hermann Blumer, and Siv Helene Stangeland & Reinhard Kropf inspired the audience with insights into climate-friendly timber construction, engineering excellence, and architectural innovation.

That day marked the beginning of an annual journey — connecting people, sharing knowledge, and shaping a more sustainable future with wood. 🌍✨